A Decade On, a Powerful Film and a Dialogue

The day’s events were also underscored by an important transition: the PDD Chairmanship handover from the Government of Kenya to the Government of Costa Rica. Dignitaries set a collaborative tone with opening remarks by Ambassador Fancy Chepkemoi Too of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kenya to the United Nations in Geneva and Ambassador Christian Guillermet of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Costa Rica to the United Nations in Geneva.

Understanding the Scale of Disaster Displacement

Setting the scene, Prof. Walter Kaelin, Envoy of the Chair of the PDD, highlighted the alarming figures:

Last year there were more than 48 million displacement in the context of disasters and climate change. That’s not conflict, that’s just flooding. Tropical storms, sea level rise, drought.”

For a long time, the human dimension of climate change was overlooked in global discussions. Prof. Kaelin noted that around the year 2000, discussions often focused on “polar bears” and glaciers, with people not truly at the forefront.

It took quite some time until the negotiators at the climate change negotiation tables realized that one of the biggest challenges we are going to face are people forced to leave their home,” he said.

A critical turning point came in 2010, when a short but vital paragraph was adopted, finally recognizing that displacement, migration, and planned relocation are integral parts of the challenges faced when combating climate change and adapting to its impacts.

The Nansen Initiative Protection Agenda

It was this growing recognition that spurred action. States like Switzerland and Norway, alongside other affected countries such as Bangladesh, the Philippines, Costa Rica, and Kenya, initiated a process of consultations across particularly impacted regions. What emerged was the Nansen Initiative Protection Agenda.

What came out of it was this small book,” Prof. Kaelin recounted, “this was 10 years ago, here in Geneva. And it was endorsed by almost 110 States.”

Commemorating NIPA+10 holds an important significance, particularly in today’s complex global landscape. Prof. Kaelin stressed,

At a time where the international community focuses on conflict, on economic disruption, with little money left for humanitarian action and saving lives, we feel it’s still important to talk about these things because climate change  is not going away and the number of people who have to leave their homes, whose lives are disrupted, who have to find ways to rebuild their lives will also go up.”

A Powerful Film and Insightful Dialogue

Following the screening of the film “You Never Know One Day You Too Might Become A Refugee”- a thought- provoking work by artists and PDD Advisory Committee members Lena Dobrowolska and Teo Ormond-Skeaping – a dynamic discussion unfolded. The panel featured Teo Ormond-Skeaping alongside. Michelle Yonetani, Senior Policy Adviser at UNHCR and Rania A. Shahshr, Director of Climate Action at IOM.

What is so important and concerning is that there is a crisis of empathies, and psychologists tell us that when the scale is too great, there could be a collapse of passions and empathy. That’s the power of this film which it portrays really well”, said Michelle Yonetani.

Rania A. Shahshr also highlighted:

I appreciate that Teo is both a filmmaker and a negotiator who sits at climate change negotiations and is able to bridge the gap between policy and depiction of the realities of disaster displacement.”

The panel was followed by a Question and Answer session and a reception at Maison de la Paix, allowing for continued networking and exchange.

Photo Credits: Patrick Simon Anderseck